Champaign, Illinois has been in negotiations with Comcast to renew their cable franchise agreement, but it’s not going so well. It’s a story that we’re all too familiar with. After operating under a cable franchise agreement for many years, the cable provider comes to the table with a very aggressive list of changes and with a “take it or leave it” mentality.

Today the city of Champaign is now at the point where they are considering issuing a preliminary denial of the Comcast proposal. If they do this a second time Comcast’s rights to have its cable facilities remaining would be terminated, so this could be the first step to some very serious prodcedures.

Of course Comcast has stated that they can always create a franchise agreement with the State and thus circumvent the local municipality all together.

Hopefully these negotiations will resolve itself under informal discussions and not require severe steps on either site. However, there is a fairly wide gap right now and it’s not looking favorable.

“On almost every point, the city and Comcast remain far apart,” Hamilton wrote. “This is particularly frustrating since most of what the city is requesting is in the existing franchise agreement.”
Jeff Hamilton, City Telecommunications Official

Source: The News Gazzette
Photo: The Comcast Booth courtesy of Jeffrey Beall
Channel Info: City of Champaign Government Television (CGTV)